For patients, families and carers
Advance Care Planning Australia
Advance Care Planning Australia provides national advance care planning resources for individuals, families, health professional and service providers. Resources include a national advisory service, information resources, a legal forms hub and education modules.
- Telephone: 1300 208 582
- Website
Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre
The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre has developed information resources and events to help people move from initial treatment to post treatment and beyond, including those receiving maintenance treatments. While they do not provide clinical advice, they connect with a range of providers to enable improved care.
- Telephone: (03) 8559 6220
- Website
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a resource for patients and carers explaining the coordination of care that patients should receive from their health service during cancer treatment. The resource is called What to expect when receiving medication for cancer care.
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue provides information about depression, anxiety and related disorders, as well as about available treatment and support services.
- Telephone: 1300 22 4636
- Website
Cancer Australia
Cancer Australia provides information for consumers, carers and their families including printed resources and video content.
Cancer Council’s Cancer Information and Support Service
Cancer Council 13 11 20 is a confidential telephone support service available to anyone affected by cancer. This service acts as a gateway to evidence-based documented, practical and emotional support available through Cancer Council services and other community organisations. Calls will be answered by a nurse or other oncology professional who can provide information relevant to a patient’s or carer’s situation. Health professionals can also access this service.
- Telephone: 13 11 20 – Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (some states have extended hours)
- Website
Cancer Council’s Cancer Connect
Cancer Connect is a free and confidential telephone peer support service that connects someone who has cancer with a specially trained volunteer who has had a similar cancer experience.
A Connect volunteer can listen with understanding and share their experiences and ways of coping. They can provide practical information, emotional support and hope. Many people newly diagnosed with cancer find this one-to-one support very beneficial.
For more information on Cancer Connect call Cancer Council 13 11 20.
Canteen
Canteen helps adolescents, young adults and parents to cope with cancer in their family. Canteen offers individual support services, peer support services and a youth cancer service, as well as books, resources and useful links.
- Telephone: 1800 835 932 to talk to a health professional about information and support for young people or 1800 226 833 for other enquiries
- Website
Clinical trial information
For a collection of clinical trials available in Australia see the following sources of information:
CanEAT pathway
A guide to optimal cancer nutrition for people with cancer, carers and health professionals.
Guides to best cancer care
The short guides help patients, carers and families understand the optimal cancer care that should be provided at each step. They include optimal timeframes within which tests or procedures should be completed, prompt lists to support patients to understand what might happen at each step of their cancer journey and to consider what questions to ask, and provide information to help patients and carers communicate with health professionals.
The guides are located on an interactive web portal, with downloadable PDFs available in multiple languages.
Look Good, Feel Better
A free national community service program, run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, dedicated to teaching cancer patients how to manage the appearance-related side effects caused by treatment for any type of cancer.
- Telephone: 1800 650 960
- Website
Melanoma Institute Australia
Primarily a research centre, Melanoma Institute Australia also provides education and patient support resources to people or carers affected by melanoma.
- Telephone: (02) 9911 7200
- Website
Melanoma Patients Australia
Melanoma Patients Australia is a national support and advocacy group for patients, family and friends affected by melanoma.
- Telephone: 1300 884 450
- Website
Quitline
Quitline is a confidential, evidence-based telephone counselling service. Highly trained Quitline counsellors use behaviour change techniques and motivational interviewing over multiple calls to help people plan, make and sustain a quit attempt.
Quitline is a culturally inclusive service for all, and Aboriginal counsellors are also available. Health professionals can refer patients to Quitline online or via fax.
- Telephone: 13 7848
- Website or the relevant website in your state or territory.
SunSmart
SunSmart is a skin cancer prevention and early detection program. The program provides skin cancer prevention and early detection education, resources and support for workplaces, schools, early childhood services, health professionals and community members.
The free SunSmart app tells you when sun protection is recommended for your location using forecast information from the Bureau of Meteorology website and live UV data from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.
Scan Your Skin
A skin cancer risk assessment questionnaire to assist people in assessing their skin cancer risk.